The Roaring Twenties were known for their cultural advancement and flashy lifestyle; however, the dark spots of this period are often overlooked. Dictionary.com defines cultural appropriation as “the act of adopting elements of an outside, often minority, culture without understanding or respecting the original culture and context.” The problem with cultural appropriation is that the offending individual benefits from the desirable aspects of a minority culture without having to experience the hardships that people of that culture must endure. The Harlem Renaissance was initiated by the Great Migration, which was the movement of thousands of African Americans from the Jim Crow South to the North, specifically Harlem, New York. Its importance in history is linked to the "New Negro", a metaphor for the abandonment of old black ideologies and the transition to independence and self-expression through the arts. Whites of the Harlem Renaissance were very openly accepting of "new Negro" culture, but did not defend as fiercely the same black individuals who made their literary, musical, and artistic contributions to society. Although blacks fled the extremely racist South, life in the North was not as promising as portrayed. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay The sudden change in race relations in the Roaring Twenties was not as dramatic as historians point out. White people still had a paternalistic view of black people and often marginalized them while indulging in African American culture. At a time when blacks were making social inroads, whites ensured that they remained inferior in the societal ranks. Every element of New Black culture was accepted, except for New Black himself. Whites of the Harlem Renaissance appropriated the new black culture emerging during this period. Black people of the Harlem Renaissance made contributions to literature, music, art, and even stage performances, and great contributions at that. Before the Great Migration, African Americans were not recognized for their creative or artistic abilities. However, after the migration, these black writers, artists, and musicians were renowned for their contributions not only to Harlem, but to the entire world. Recognition of creative abilities was not evidence of much other than whites' prior ignorance of blacks' abilities other than those that were physical. Black people were classified based on their physical traits; their size, their strength and, as sickly as they are, even their genetics, as if they were genetically modified cattle. White people of that era, intentionally or not, were mentally trained to view a black person at face value. Black people were seen as a body, not a mind and soul with extraordinary abilities. This is why it took so long for African Americans to be recognized for their contributions to society. Nothing changed in black culture following the Harlem Renaissance. ; the music was still jazz, the authors produced the same content and the artists remained faithful to their beginnings. Jazz and blues were composed by African Americans in the 19th century. William Henry Johnson was one of the most important artists of the Harlem Renaissance; In his art were depictions of landscapes and everyday life, a style that dates back to the 12th century. Langston Hughes produced more than 30 literary works,but among his most famous is “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” published in 1921, at the beginning of the Renaissance. The most important factor in the recognition of black people's abilities was that their talents were now being showcased, and there was no denying how talented they truly were. The sudden popularity of black works supports the assertion that the appreciation was just a fad. The white community did not respect the culture, rather they realized its popularity and took advantage of it. It could be argued that black people were now receiving great recognition and that this must have been an accomplishment in itself. We might also recognize that blacks seized the opportunistic social and economic freedom of Harlem. However, if these same people were of white origin, this would not be an accomplishment; that would just be the norm of a talented artist. “For the first time, African Americans…were noted for their contributions…”. It must be emphasized that blacks were not more credited than ever, they were for the first time. Whether or not one receives recognition for one's greatness should never depend on race; it should be a discussion about how talented that person is. It is completely disrespectful to act as if giving credit where credit is due is a privilege simply because the talented individual is a minority. Recognition of black excellence should not be treated as if it were a gift or favor, and in this idea the paternalistic perspective that plagued the Harlem Renaissance is exposed. As deeply as whites appreciated black culture, what was even deeper was their dissatisfaction with blacks. At the start of the Great Migration, Harlem's white community did everything they could to prevent black people from moving into their neighborhoods. They tried, but ultimately failed, and when they couldn't stop African Americans from moving in, they simply moved away. It is quite ironic that when blacks arrived, their artistic abilities were greatly cherished by the community. However, what is even more ironic is that the same people who previously created a wake of fear eventually became the main source of entertainment and joy within a community that tried to dissuade them. The predominantly white community in and around Harlem engaged heavily in jazz music. Jazz was at the center of black culture. It’s a kind of spontaneity and adaptation. One that is about having moments to shine, while remaining one and the same to create a finished, exceptionally great product. It was the epitome of what it meant to be black; a symbolic sense of identity. However, white people did not take into account its importance and made jazz played by black people a form of capital. The best example of black exploitation was the Cotton Club. As if the name wasn't derogatory enough, this club was a club in which black people performed in front of an exclusively white audience. Dorsey also described it as "a form of entertainment for white people." He also says, “White inner-city residents would flock to Harlem to experience the primitive without having to go to Africa. » The club's waiters were also black. The only positions held by blacks were those of service, emphasizing white superiority. Black people were fleeing slavery in the South to come to the North and become servants. White people exploited black culture and used it for capital purposes, even though they had little or no understanding of it. The opposition can argue that whites have not completely capitalized on blacks, but have.